Four women will receive “Women of Achievement” awards from the Kalamazoo YWCA next month. The winners announced Thursday include Margaret Merrion, the dean of Western Michigan University’s College of Fine Arts. The others are Jeanne Baraka-Love, the director of Ujima Enterprises which works with African-American youth in Kalamazoo; Willie Mae Pierson, the first black female real estate agent in Kalamazoo; and veterinarian Heidi Stucki.
The awards will be presented on May 21st. That day, Ronda Stryker will receive the Kalamazoo YWCA’s “Lifetime Woman of Achievement” award.